RTS West of England again partnered with Bristol Unesco City of Film and welcomed 16 companies from the creative community, including Mallinson Sadler Productions, One Tribe TV and Twenty Twenty.  

Students chatted to the companies and had the opportunity to try out camera kit, courtesy of Films at 59. 

A series of sold-out short talks were also on offer, with industry professionals sharing insights and passing on tips.  

Gritty Talent founder Mel Rodrigues and Managing Director Phoebe Sinclair explained how to create a great CV and offered advice on what you need to do to stand out in a tough, competitive industry.  

Ryan Francis (BBC Two’s Statue Wars: One Summer in Bristol) and Blak Wave Productions founder Mike Jenkins discussed self-shooting, while Andrew Sheehy, a production manager at Keo Films, and Sadie Coles, a production coordinator at Wildstar Films, talked about production management. 

Rachel Drummond-Hay, co-founder of Drummer Television and Vice-Chair of RTS West of England said: “Even with face masks and hand sanitizer in full force, this year’s event was as buzzy as ever. Due to the pandemic, there’s been a real lack of face-to-face networking opportunities for young people and we were really pleased to be able to deliver this important event in our calendar again.  

“We were particularly pleased to welcome a diverse range of students from across the region, from colleges to universities, reinforcing the important message that the TV industry is inclusive and accessible to all.”  

Report by Suzy Lambert